PELLA —This year's Tazon De Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) will feature eight members of the Central College football squad and will be contested on December 18 in Mexicali, Mexico.
Quarterback Riley Gray (West Des Moines/Waukee HS), wide receiverZack Martinelli (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland HS), tight end Mitchell Boerm (Traer/North Tama HS), offensive linemen Kyle Pepper (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Southwest HS) and Cole Tanner (Greenfield/Orient-Macksburg HS), kicker Aaron Marcellus (Hudson), linebacker Jessie Peterson (Coralville/Iowa City West HS) and defensive back Zach Matter (Ankeny) will represent the Dutch.
The Tazon de Estrellas is an all-star game hosted by Global Football. The event, and its predecessor, the Aztec Bowl, have a combined 19-year history. The eight Central players will play for Team Stars and Stripes, a 54-player team of NCAA Division III seniors who have been nominated by head coaches. 22 different schools will be represented this year. Team Stars and Stripes will face all-stars chosen from a national conference of Mexican private colleges.
Gray was a first team all-Iowa Conference selection after throwing for 2,478 yards with a 64.3 completion percentage. He also completed 29 touchdown passes.
Martinelli caught 33 passes for 438 yards and four touchdowns. He was also a first team all-conference selection as a return specialist.
Recently named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in addition to being first team all-conference honoree, Boerm had 24 grabs for 383 yards and two touchdowns this year.
Two key cogs of an explosive Dutch offense, Pepper and Tanner helped the Dutch lead the nation in first downs and finish eighth in total offense.
Marcellus made eight of his 12 field goal attempts and added 44 extra point conversions to finish as the team's second leading scorer with 68 points.
Finishing second on the team with 79 tackles, Peterson led the team with 44 solo stops. Additionally, he had three pass break ups and a forced fumble. He was also a first team all-conference pick
From his free safety positon, Matter had an astounding 13 pass break ups in addition to his team-high three interceptions. A d3football.com all-West Region selection in 2015, he was also a first team all-conference choice this season.
Former Dutch defensive coordinator Don De Waard is the head coach for Team Stars and Stripes and Central athletic training education program director John Roslien serves as the player personnel director. It is De Waard's ffifth consecutive year coaching the squad after several years as an assistant coach and Roslien's 19th year of involvement with the game and its predecessor, the Aztec Bowl.
Dutch head athletic trainer Frank Neu serves in that role for the team and Central senior athletic training students Kylie Bradley, Brett Boddicker, Julia Evans and Ben Ewing will also make the trip to Mexico. Neu has been a part of the Mexican postseason games for 16 years.
